Coming Up Short

In the previous post I talked about how the Eagles were seen as having arguably the best roster in all of the league. Let’s talk about that. Some critics now tear that notion apart, but a lot of smart people believed it to be true. So what happened?

There isn’t one simple answer.

Injuries are the biggest issue. We expected Fletcher Cox to be playing at his usual level, as one of the most dominant players in the league. Cox is getting better each week, but hasn’t looked like the dominant DT we’re used to. DeSean Jackson has basically played in one game. He looked great, but has been missing since. Kamu Grugier-Hill had a great offseason and looked to be a breakout player. He got hurt and is just now getting back on the field.

Malik Jackson and Tim Jernigan gave the Eagles great depth at DT. Jackson is done for the year and Jernigan hasn’t played much. Ronald Darby hasn’t looked 100 percent at any time this year. Avonte Maddox has had a few issues to deal with and is out now. Cre’Von LeBlanc hasn’t played a snap this year.

We haven’t really seen the team that everyone raved about in August. And we won’t. Some of these guys won’t be back this year.

Another issue is that there are too many underachievers right now. Mack Hollins is healthy, but he’s not producing. DeSean caught 8 passes in the opener. Hollins has 10 catches for the season. That isn’t good, no matter how you spin it. Nelson Agholor has 23 catches, but has had several key drops and he hasn’t been able to hook up with Carson Wentz on deep balls. Agholor’s production would be fine if he was just a #3 or #4 receiver. Right now he’s your #2 guy and he’s not getting the job done.

Jim Schwartz called out his LBs today, saying they aren’t making enough plays. He’s absolutely right. Nigel Bradham was a Pro Bowl type of player in 2017. He’s not played at that level since. I know he’s versatile and tough and the coaches like him, but he needs to be more productive. Zach Brown already got his walking papers.

As much as everyone loves Malcolm Jenkins, he’s not made a lot of plays this year. He’s had some coverage issues, as we saw on Sunday. Jenkins needs to play better.

The team paid Isaac Seumalo good money in the offseason and he hasn’t played to that level. He was dreadful against the Falcons and was probably the main reason the Eagles lost. Seumalo has been better since then, but still needs to play better.

Sidney Jones continues to disappoint. He’s good here and there, but not consistently. Rasul Douglas has been beaten for multiple long TDs. Yes, he expected help on some of them, but that’s why you want CBs to have good recovery speed. Go catch the WR and tackle him. When receivers get behind Douglas, they can start planning their TD celebration.

Josh Sweat and Vinny Curry have combined for 2 sacks. They have each had good moments, but aren’t productive enough.

One of the links with this issue is poor drafting. Howie Roseman has hit big on Wentz, Cox, Brandon Graham, Lane Johnson, Zach Ertz, Jason Kelce, and Dallas Goedert. Those guys are outstanding players. Derek Barnett, Miles Sanders, Maddox and Big V have all shown serious talent or been effective starters.

There are a lot of misses as well.

Wide receivers drafted by the Eagles since Howie Roseman was promoted to GM in 2010:

Riley Cooper
Marvin McNutt
Jordan Matthews
Josh Huff
Nelson Agholor
Mack Hollins
Shelton Gibson
JJ Arcega-Whiteside

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 9, 2019

The list of cornerbacks drafted by the Eagles since Howie Roseman was promoted to GM in 2010 isn't any better:
Trevard Lindley
Curtis Marsh
Brandon Boykin
Randall Evans
Eric Rowe
Blake Countess
Jalen Mills
Rasul Douglas
Sidney Jones
Avonte Maddox https://t.co/JI6Au9IufG

— Patrick (@pmc_cmp3) October 9, 2019

There are plenty of other misses over the years. And not everyone has to become a Pro Bowl player, but mid-round picks like Josh Sweat, Donnel Pumphrey, Josh Huff and Jaylen Watkins didn’t become starters or key role players.

To be fair, some of those picks are on Chip Kelly and some on Joe Douglas. This isn’t about assigning blame so much as it is pointing out the organization hasn’t done well enough in the draft. The pro personnel department has made up for that with some great trades and signings, but it is hard to maintain that. You need young, cheap talent and that means you must draft well.

One other problem with the 2019 Eagles is that they aren’t making key plays. We might feel very differently about this team if Agholor catches that pass against the Falcons and runs in for the go-ahead TD. We would feel very differently about JJ Arcega-Whiteside if he had caught the deep ball late in the Lions game. Part of what made the 2017 team so good is that they were so clutch. That team made key plays all year long. And not all by stars. Role players stepped up and helped get the job done.

Not now.

The final issue is that this team isn’t playing enough like a team. Four of five linemen will execute blocks correctly. One DB will blow a coverage. Or one will get called for holding on third-and-long. Carson Wentz makes a great throw only to have a receiver drop it. A receiver runs a great route to get open deep and Carson is off-target. Players must help each other to function at a high level. That isn’t happening with any consistency this year.

Pederson has talked about the fact the team doesn’t feel in sync. Schwartz talked about a situation Sunday when the offense needed the defense to step up and get the job done. Didn’t happen. This collection of coaches and players has to be better as a whole unit.

I still believe the Eagles have plenty of talent. They should be playing better than they are. The coaches can be part of the solution, but it sure feels like most of this is on the players.

Get healthy.

Eliminate sloppy mistakes.

Play up to your ability and help out your teammates.

There is no need for some crazy schematic change. There are no miracle cures. There is enough talent for this team to win games and get to the postseason. Winning on Sunday would be a great place to turn things around.

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